Bottled water cradle case construction

ABSTRACT

A carrying and storage case for a 5-gallon water bottle is in the nature of an open-ended square box with internal corner portions and with means whereby like boxes may be releasably interlocked, all parts being essentially of a single, unitary plastic material construction with an elastic insert that serves to cushion such bottle and to frictionally engage the bottle when stored on its side.

United States Patent [1 1 Frahm et al. 1 Apr. 9, 1974 BOTTLED WATER CRADLE CASE 2,465,816 3/1949 Pel'letier 220/4 F CONSTRUCTION 1,540,659 6/1925 Smith 217/52 1,915,249 6/1933 Jorgensen 220/DIG. 19 Inventors: Carl Frahm; Shirley Frahm, 2,383,717 8/1945 Fisher 217/52 both of 1428 Oak Meadow Rd., 1 Arcadia f 9 00 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,240,706 8/1960 France 220/97 R [22] Filed 1971 1,172,437 11/1969 Great Britain.. 220/72 21 APP] 1 19 101,512 7 3/1963 Norway 220/97 R Related Application Data Prima ExaminerGe0r e E Lowrance [63] Continuation-impart of Ser. No.- 159,787, July 6, Agent or FirmfLyn & Lyon 1971, abandoned, which is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 33,435, April 30, 1970, abandoned.

' [57] ABSTRACT 52 U.S. Cl 220 66 217 52, 220 72, 1 1 220/9/7 R A carrying and storage case fora S-gallon water bottle CI. 1 is in the nature of an Open-ended square bOX in- [58] Field of S earch 220/66 72 74 71 9 R ternal Corner portions and with means whereby like 19 5 boxes may be releasably interlocked, all parts being 7 essentially of a single, unitary plastic materialcon- [56] References C d struction with an elastic insert that serves to cushion such bottle and to frictionally engage the bottle when UNITED STATES PATENTS Stored on its Side; i 3,361,293 l/1968 Box 220/97 R 2,091,860 11/1935 James 217/52 1 Claim, 8 Drawing Figures BOTTLED WATER CRADLE CASE CONSTRUCTION The present application is a continuation-in-part of our US. patent application, Ser. No. 159,787, filed July 6, 1971 which in turn is a continuation-in-part of our application, Ser. No. 33,435, filed Apr. 30, 1970, both now abandoned.

The present invention relates to an improved carrying and storage case and is particularly useful in the handling and storage of large S-gallon water bottles.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved case for this purpose which is of unitary construction, yet rugged and durable for continuous service in the business of supplying drinking water in large bottles of, for example, the -gallon size.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved case which obviates problems involved in previous uses of wooden cases.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved case of this character which is relatively light in weight, yet durable for continuous use, and of pleasing appearance. I

Still another object of the present invention is toprovide improved cases which may be easily handled and releasably interlocked.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a case of this character in which elements of the same are interconnected in a novel manner to allow an integral structure vof plastic material which is strong and durable to withstand the repeated uses and operations to which the same are subjected in the business of supplying bottled water for drinking or other purposes.

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a case embodying features of the invention with some parts thereof shown in section.

FIG. 2 is a view in elevation of one side of the same.

FIG. 3 is a view in elevation ofanother side of the same.

FIG; 4- is a view of the bottom of the same.

FIGS. 5 and 6 are sectional views taken substantially as indicated by the lines 55 and 6-6 in FIG. 2 with the water bottle intendedto be carried or stored in the case being shown in outline with, however, the same modified'to include an elastic pad illustrated also in FIG. 8.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view illustrating portions of two like cases in their interlocked condition.

FIG. 8 is 'a perspective view illustrating the pad shown in operative position in FIGS. 5 and 6.

.The case is preferably of plastic material with all elements thereof being integrally formed so as to define in general an open ended box or case having the four sides 1 1, 12, 13, and 14of equal width and height, and bottom for containing, carrying, or storing a 5-gallon water bottle B.

vThe box or case is square in cross section and the four internal corners are each defined in part by symmetrically disposed web members 32, 54, 41, and 21, which extend respectively fromz sides 13 and 12; sides 14and 13; sides 14 and 11; and sides 12 and 11. These web members 32, 54, 41and 21 each comprise the hypotenuse of a corresponding equilateral triangular opening 32A, 54A, 41A, and 21A, each of which extends through the full height of the box as illustrated at 21A in FIG. 6.

' bers 32, 54, 41 and 21 is also integrally formed with the lowermost central portions of-the sides 11, 12, 13, and 14 at 11A, 12A, 13A, and 14A.

This flat base portion 15A has its inner peripheral portion integrally formed with a generally circular raised portion 158 which as seen in FIG. 5 is generally arcuate in cross section and defines a ring from which a series of eight spaced integrally formed ribs or webs 15C extend radially inwardly to an integrally formed, centrally located'raised disc portion 15D.

The ring portion 15B is also integrally formed along its innermost peripheral edge with a supporting circular ring 15E and likewise a supporting circular ring 15F is integrally formed with the outer peripheral edge portion of disc 15D, these supporting ring portions 15E and 15F being generally in the same plane with the eight ribs 15C and of the same vertical height and defining the eight sectored openings 15G therebetween. Also, the flat base portion 15A may be provided with a series of spaced openings 15H therethrough to assure water draining in cleaning operations.

Each of the four sides 11, 1'2, 13 and 14 is provided with a central opening which is preferably closed in part by a fanciful lattice illustrated at 11E, 13E, and

14E so .as to allow the contents of the bottle 13 to be viewed and at the same time to provide a pleasing appearance. Also hand openings to facilitate manual handling may be provided in each of the four sides in a central and upper location as illustrated by the, hand holes 11D, 12D, 13D, and 14D.

Further cooperating interlocking means in the form of small and large nestable ringsllF, 116 and 13F, 13G respectively are on the corresponding sides 13 and l 1.

There are two such small rings 11F on side 11 adapted to releasably fit or nest within large rings 13G of a like box or case, and likewise there are two such special rings 13F on side 13 adapted to simultaneously releasably fit or nest within large ring s 11G of the same like box or case .as illustrated in FIG. 7..

It is noted that each of these rings 11F, 11G and 13F, 13G extend outwardly beyond corresponding vertically extending ribs lll-I and 13H respectively on sides 11 and 13 and that such ribs on like boxes as seen in FIG.

' 7 contacteach other in the mated condition illustrated so that, for example, the smaller one of the nested rings is not required to bottom against the adjacent side. Horizontally extending ribs 11K and 13K on sides 11 and 13 cooperate in like manner as do the ribs 1 1H and 13H. These ribs 11K are coextensive with like ribs 12K, 13K, 14K which are in the same plane on sides 12, 13 and 14.

For absorbing shock forces and to provide a good frictional contact with a glass bottle when the bottle is stored on its side in the case, each side of the plastic case has releasably secured thereto an elasticpad of rubber or like material which is generally diamond shaped with a central apertured portion 55A and a pair of spaced peripheral flanged portions 55B, 55C that retain the pad 55 in one of the like diamond shaped apertured portions of the plastic case.

The case is also provided with two abutment members 60, 61 (FIGS. 5 and l) on the upper ends of sides 11 and 13 and internally thereof near the upper ends of such sides. These members 60, 61 are also of plastic and are each initially formed with a pair of projections 60A, 61A that fit into corresponding apertured portions of sides 11, 13, after which these members are welded to the sides l1, 13 as, for example, by wellknown plastic sonic welding techniques.

These abutments 60, 61 as seen in FIG. 5 are generally L-shaped in cross section and extend substantially the full width of sides 11, 13 and prevent inadvertent or accidental slipping of a bottle out of the case in handling and in transport. Indeed, it is necessary that when cases are stacked with mating of elements 11F, 130 of adjacent cases, the bottle must be raised over one of these abutments in order to effect its removal from the case. With normal forces encountered in handling and transporting the cases with filled bottles and particularly when the rubber pads 55 are .wet or are otherwise in a condition where they offer minimum frictional forces, the abutments 60, 61 prevent the bottles from slipping out of their cases.

While the particular embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the invention in its broader aspects and, therefore, the aim in the appended claims is to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.

We claim:

1. An open-ended generally square case having four sides and a bottom; four web members, each of which is integrally formed with correspondingly different adjacent ones of said four sides and extends angularly with respect to the planes of those sides with which the same is integrally formed; each of said web members extending substantially the full height of the case, said bottom being integrally joined with each of said four webs, said bottom being integrally formed with the lower centrally disposed portions of each of said sides, said bottom including centrally located disc-like portion with integrally formed web portions extending radially outwardly therefrom and integrally joined with a ring portion, said ring portion being arcuate in cross section and being integrally interconnected between the last-mentioned web members and a substantially planar portion which is integrally formed with said sides and the first mentioned web members, said web members defining open corner spaces with corresponding adjacent walls, said open corner spaces extending throughout the height of the case, interlocking means extending outwardly from one of said sides, said interlocking means includes a small element nestable within a like larger element, said elements being circular and said one side includes an outer web portion on a like box for limiting the extent of protrusion of said smaller element into said larger element, a rubber like insert mounted within each of said sides, said rubber like element having a pair of spaced retention flanged portions and having a re-entrant surface portion contacting the bottle in said case when said case is resting on its side, and transversely extending abutment elements are on the inner surfaces of sides of said case and near its open end over which a bottle is required to be lifted when the case is on its side. 

1. An open-ended generally square case having four sides and a bottom; four web members, each of which is integrally formed with correspondingly different adjacent ones of said four sides and extends angularly with respect to the planes of those sides with which the same is integrally formed; each of said web members extending substantially the full height of the case; said bottom being integrally joined with each of said four webs, said bottom being integrally formed with the lower centrally disposed portions of each of said sides, said bottom including centrally located disc-like portion with integrally formed web portions extending radially outwardly therefrom and integrally joined with a ring portion, said ring portion being arcuate in cross section and being integrally interconnected between the last-mentioned web members and a substantially planar portion which is integrally formed with said sides and the first mentioned web members, said web members defining open corner spaces with corresponding adjacent walls, said open corner spaces extending throughout the height of the case, interlocking means extending outwardly from one of said sides, said interlocking means includes a small element nestable within a like larger element, said elements being circular and said one side includes an outer web portion on a like box for limiting the extent of protrusion of said smaller element into said larger element, a rubber like insert mounted within each of said sides, said rubber like element having a pair of spaced retention flanged portions and having a re-entrant surface portion contacting the bottle in said case when said case is resting on its side, and transversely extending abutment elements are on the inner surfaces of sides of said case and near its open end over which a bottle is required to be lifted when the case is on its side. 